The effect of poley (Teucrium polium L.) on performance, carcass traits, intestinal morphology, immune system and antioxidant status of broilers

Abstract

Introduction: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of poley (Teucrium
polium L.) medicinal plant on performance, carcass traits, intestinal morphology, immune
system and antioxidant status of broilers.
Materials & Methods: 240 ross- 308 broilers were used in 5 treatments, 4 replicates and 12
chicks in each replicate in a completely randomized design. Experimental groups included:
1) control group (basal diet) and 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% of poley powder. The amounts of feed
intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured in grower (11-24 days), finisher
(25- 42 days) and whole (11-42 days) experimental periods. In 42 day, 8 birds were selected
from each treatment for evaluation of carcass traits, weight of different intestinal sections,
length, width and depth of crypts. In 42 day the immune and antioxidant status were
measured.
Results: In In growth period using 1.5 and 2% poley reduced the amount of weight gain and
increased the feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). In finisher period the highest and lowest amount
of weight gain were observed with 1.5 and 2% poley (P<0.05). In whole period 2% poley in
diet decreased the amount of daily weight gain (P<0.05). The highest percentage of gizzard
and lowest percentage of breast were obtained with 2% poley (P<0.05). Different levels of
poley had no effects on digestive tract characteristic, intestinal morphology and immune
status of broilers (P<0.05). Treatments contained 1.5 and 2% poley significantly increased
the antioxidant capacity of blood serum (P<0.05). But the level of MDA did not affected in
experimental group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The overall results showed that in broilers, using poley up to 1.5% of diet,
improve the performance and antioxidant capacity, but using 2% poley had adverse effect on
daily weight gain and carcass traits.